Get ISSN Number for Journal Publication
Professional ISSN Registration for Online Journals, Print Journals, Research Journals, Academic Publications, and Conference Journals — India & Worldwide.
Journey & Wisdom Publications through JW Publication provides complete ISSN registration guidance and journal publication support for academic journals, research journals, institutional journals, conference journals, and open-access publications. We help publishers, editors, colleges, universities, and organizations obtain ISSN numbers with professional journal setup, OJS hosting, Crossref DOI integration, peer review workflow configuration, and global indexing support.
What is an ISSN Number?
ISSN — International Standard Serial Number — is the globally recognized 8-digit identification system for serial publications. A serial publication is any publication issued in successive parts and intended to continue indefinitely: academic journals, research periodicals, magazines, newsletters, conference journals, and institutional bulletins all fall under this category.
The ISSN system is maintained by the ISSN International Centre in Paris, France, and is administered in India through the ISSN National Centre at CSIR-NISCPR (National Science Library). There are ISSN national centres in over 100 countries around the world, ensuring global coverage for journals regardless of their country of publication or language.
An ISSN gives your journal a permanent, universally recognized identity. Just as an ISBN identifies a book, an ISSN identifies a journal or periodical — across all databases, libraries, and academic institutions worldwide. Every major indexing system, including Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, and Google Scholar, uses ISSN as the primary identifier for journals.
An ISSN is an 8-digit number written in two groups of four digits separated by a hyphen, such as 2583-XXXX. The final digit is a check digit. Online and print editions of the same journal each carry a distinct ISSN — known as eISSN (electronic ISSN) and pISSN (print ISSN) respectively.
JW Publication provides complete ISSN registration guidance, journal infrastructure setup, OJS platform configuration, peer review workflow, and comprehensive journal launch support for publishers, academic institutions, and independent journal editors across India and internationally.
Benefits of ISSN for Your Journal
ISBN vs ISSN — Which Do You Need?
ISBN and ISSN are both international identification standards for publications, but they serve completely different types of publications. Understanding the difference helps you obtain the correct registration for your work.
| Feature | ISBN (Books) | ISSN (Journals) |
|---|---|---|
| Publication Type | Books & monographs | Journals, magazines, periodicals |
| Digits | 13 digits | 8 digits |
| Publication Frequency | One-time publication | Serial / recurring publications |
| Best For | Authors & book publishers | Journal editors & publishers |
| Identifies | Specific book edition | Journal title & format |
| India Authority | Raja Rammohun Roy Agency | CSIR-NISCPR (NSL) |
| Global Authority | ISBN International Agency | ISSN International Centre, Paris |
| Needed For | Amazon, Flipkart, libraries | Indexing, library journals, DOI |
Who Can Apply for ISSN?
Note on book-based publications: If you are publishing a one-time conference proceedings book or edited academic volume, you need an ISBN (not ISSN). JW Publication provides official ISBN through the Raja Rammohun Roy National Agency for ISBN for all book-format publications.
ISSN Registration & Journal Services
From obtaining your ISSN to launching a fully operational peer-reviewed journal — JW Publication supports every type of serial publication.
Online journals and e-journals receive an Electronic ISSN (eISSN), which is the most commonly applied-for ISSN type today. Any journal published exclusively on the internet — whether open-access or subscription-based — requires an eISSN for global recognition, library cataloging, and indexing database eligibility. JW Publication assists online journal publishers with the complete eISSN application process, including journal website setup, OJS configuration, and editorial workflow establishment required by the ISSN National Centre.
Journals that produce physical printed editions require a separate Print ISSN (pISSN). This applies to university journals, institutional newsletters, and traditional periodicals that are distributed in paper format. The pISSN appears on the journal's printed cover and in the masthead. Even if your journal has both print and online editions, each format requires and receives its own distinct ISSN number. JW Publication provides print journal ISSN guidance and complete print journal setup support including cover design and formatting.
Many academic journals publish in both print and online formats simultaneously. In this case, both a pISSN (for the print edition) and an eISSN (for the online edition) must be obtained separately. When citing, researchers typically list both ISSNs — for example, "ISSN 2345-6789 (Print), eISSN 2345-6790 (Online)." JW Publication provides dual ISSN application support, helping journals obtain and correctly display both identifiers across their website, masthead, and article headers.
Conferences that publish annual or recurring proceedings journals under a consistent title can apply for ISSN registration. This differs from one-time conference proceedings, which use ISBN. A recurring conference journal — such as the "Annual Proceedings of the International Conference on Engineering Innovation" published every year under the same title — qualifies as a serial publication and can receive an ISSN. JW Publication helps conference organizers determine whether their publication qualifies for ISSN or ISBN, and provides complete setup support for both options.
Colleges, universities, research departments, and academic organizations frequently want to launch their own scholarly journals to showcase faculty research, provide a platform for student research, and enhance institutional prestige. JW Publication provides end-to-end institutional journal setup — from ISSN registration guidance and journal title finalization, to editorial board formation support, OJS platform installation, journal website development, peer review workflow configuration, and ongoing hosting and technical maintenance.
Not all serial publications are academic journals. Professional magazines, institutional newsletters, organizational bulletins, trade publications, and association periodicals also qualify for ISSN registration. An ISSN gives your newsletter or magazine a professional, internationally recognized identity that improves credibility with readers, partners, and institutional stakeholders. JW Publication assists non-academic serial publishers with ISSN guidance, publication design, and distribution support for newsletters and magazines.
Complete Journal Publication Services
Beyond ISSN registration, JW Publication provides everything you need to launch and operate a professional, credible academic journal from day one.
How to Get an ISSN Number for Your Journal
ISSN registration is a structured process. JW Publication guides you through every step — from defining your journal scope to launching your first published issue.
Professional OJS Journal Management Platform
Open Journal Systems (OJS) is the world's most widely used open-source journal management and publishing platform, developed by the Public Knowledge Project (PKP). JW Publication provides complete cloud-based OJS setup and hosting for academic publishers, institutions, and independent journal editors.
Our OJS service transforms a bare installation into a fully operational, professionally branded journal platform ready to accept submissions, manage peer review, assign DOIs, and publish articles — all from a single cloud-hosted system that requires no technical expertise from your editorial team.
Affordable ISSN & Journal Setup Packages
Contact us for customized pricing tailored to your journal's specific requirements, scale, and technical needs. No hidden charges — transparent, honest service.
- ✓ ISSN registration guidance
- ✓ Journal structure consultation
- ✓ Basic journal setup support
- ✓ Journal title & scope review
- ✓ Documentation preparation help
- ✓ Email support
- ✓ ISSN registration support
- ✓ OJS setup & configuration
- ✓ Journal website development
- ✓ Editorial workflow setup
- ✓ Peer review system configuration
- ✓ Crossref DOI integration support
- ✓ Google Scholar indexing setup
- ✓ Journal cover & branding design
- ✓ Cloud hosting (1 year)
- ✓ Priority support
- ✓ Complete journal launch package
- ✓ ISSN + Crossref DOI integration
- ✓ OJS cloud hosting & maintenance
- ✓ Full technical support & updates
- ✓ SEO & indexing submission support
- ✓ Plagiarism checking integration
- ✓ Author guidelines & template design
- ✓ DOAJ & open access submission
- ✓ Quarterly issue publication support
- ✓ Dedicated journal manager
- ✓ Annual hosting + maintenance
Complete Guide to ISSN Registration & Journal Publication in India
Starting an academic journal in India is one of the most impactful things an institution, publisher, or researcher community can do. A well-run, ISSN-registered journal creates a permanent, credible platform for original research, gives authors in your domain a trusted venue for publication, and builds the academic reputation of your institution or organization over time. Yet despite the clear benefits, the process of obtaining an ISSN and launching a professional journal can seem opaque and technically complex to those doing it for the first time.
This guide, written by JW Publication (Journey & Wisdom Publications) based on our experience supporting 500+ journals across India and 45 countries, walks you through everything you need to know about ISSN registration, journal setup, and professional journal publication.
ISSN is to journals what ISBN is to books. Just as every book needs an ISBN to be professionally recognized and sold in stores and libraries, every serial publication — journal, magazine, periodical, newsletter — needs an ISSN to be cataloged in libraries, indexed in academic databases, and taken seriously by the global research community.
The ISSN System in India: How It Works
India is one of the world's leading producers of academic journals. With hundreds of thousands of researchers, professors, and institutions across a vast and diverse country, the demand for credible, ISSN-registered publication venues is enormous. The ISSN system in India is administered by the ISSN National Centre for India, which operates under the National Science Library (NSL) at CSIR-NISCPR (Council of Scientific and Industrial Research — National Institute of Science Communication and Policy Research) in New Delhi.
The Indian ISSN National Centre is one of over 100 national centres worldwide that operate under the coordination of the ISSN International Centre in Paris, France. When your journal receives an ISSN through the Indian national centre, that number is registered in the global ISSN Portal — the international registry of serial publications — making your journal discoverable by libraries, databases, and researchers worldwide.
ISSN registration in India requires your journal to have a published or ready-to-publish sample issue, a professional journal website with masthead, editorial board, aims & scope, publication ethics statement, and contact information. JW Publication helps you set up all of this before you apply, dramatically improving your chances of a smooth, successful application.
ISSN for Online Journals vs Print Journals: What You Need to Know
One of the most common points of confusion for new journal publishers is whether their online journal needs a different ISSN than a print version. The answer is yes — and here is why:
- Print ISSN (pISSN): Assigned to the physical, printed edition of a journal. Appears on the cover, spine, and masthead of printed issues. Required even if the journal is also available online.
- Electronic ISSN (eISSN): Assigned to the online, digital edition of a journal. This is the ISSN that appears in most database records, CrossRef metadata, and online journal directories today, since the majority of academic publishing now happens online.
- Dual ISSN: If your journal publishes in both print and online formats, you apply for both a pISSN and an eISSN. When articles are cited, both ISSNs may be listed — for example: "ISSN 2583-XXXX (Print) / eISSN 2583-XXXX (Online)".
Most new journals launched today are exclusively online (open-access or subscription-based), and therefore apply only for an eISSN. JW Publication helps you determine the correct ISSN type for your specific publication model and guides you through the appropriate application process.
OJS — The Foundation of Modern Academic Journal Publishing
Open Journal Systems (OJS) is free, open-source journal management software developed by the Public Knowledge Project (PKP). It has become the de facto standard for academic journal management worldwide, used by thousands of journals in over 140 countries. Understanding why OJS matters is important for anyone setting up a new journal:
- Complete submission management: Authors submit manuscripts through OJS, where editors assign reviewers, track review progress, communicate decisions, and manage the entire editorial workflow in one system.
- Double-blind peer review: OJS supports multiple review models including double-blind, single-blind, and open review, with automated reviewer anonymization and notification systems.
- DOI integration: OJS integrates directly with Crossref's API for automatic DOI registration upon article publication — eliminating the need for manual DOI assignment.
- Google Scholar indexing: OJS generates the metadata markup required for Google Scholar to automatically index your journal's articles, improving discoverability.
- ISSN application support: A functional OJS installation with proper journal setup is often what ISSN national centres look for when reviewing ISSN applications from online journals.
JW Publication's OJS setup service goes beyond basic installation. We customize your journal's theme to match your institutional or journal branding, configure all plugins (DOI, plagiarism check, Google Scholar metadata), set up email templates for submission confirmations, review invitations, and publication notifications, train your editorial team on using the system, and provide ongoing hosting and technical support.
JW Publication's ScholarJMS platform already manages journal paper publication for thousands of researchers across India through our own ISSN-registered journals, with Crossref DOI, UGC CARE standards, and peer review workflows. When we set up your journal, we bring that same proven infrastructure and expertise to your publication.
After ISSN: Indexing Your Journal for Maximum Visibility
Obtaining an ISSN is the essential first step, but the long-term success of your journal depends on getting indexed in databases that researchers search when looking for publication venues. Indexing dramatically increases the number of article submissions you receive, the citation counts of your published articles, and the overall academic reputation of your journal.
- Google Scholar: The most accessible first indexing target. Properly configured OJS with correct metadata will be automatically crawled by Google Scholar. Free and available to all ISSN-registered journals with a public website.
- DOAJ (Directory of Open Access Journals): For open-access journals, DOAJ listing is a major credibility marker. JW Publication helps you meet DOAJ's detailed criteria and submit your application.
- UGC CARE List: For journals targeting Indian academic authors, UGC CARE listing is critical — Indian university researchers are typically required to publish in UGC CARE listed journals for career advancement. JW Publication can advise on UGC CARE application requirements.
- CrossRef / DOI registration: Essential for citation tracking and academic database visibility. Every article should have a DOI. JW Publication integrates Crossref DOI registration directly into your OJS workflow.
- Scopus and Web of Science: These are the most prestigious indexing targets, with rigorous evaluation criteria for journal quality, publication ethics, and editorial standards. JW Publication can guide you on building toward these prestigious indices over time.
Focus on Google Scholar and DOAJ first — they are achievable relatively quickly with a properly set up journal. Build your editorial reputation over 2–3 years before applying for Scopus or Web of Science, which require sustained evidence of editorial quality, citation impact, and publication regularity.
What Journal Editors Say
Real feedback from journal editors, university departments, and researchers who launched their journals with JW Publication support.
"JW Publication helped our university department launch our first academic journal from scratch. They guided us through ISSN registration, set up OJS on their cloud servers, configured our peer review workflow, and integrated Crossref DOI. Our journal is now Google Scholar indexed and we received 80+ manuscript submissions in the first four months."
"We were confused about whether our conference proceedings needed ISBN or ISSN. JW Publication explained everything clearly, helped us get the correct ISBN for our one-time proceedings, and set up the OJS system for our annual conference journal that now has its own eISSN. Excellent clarity and professional support."
"Our NGO wanted to publish a quarterly research bulletin with ISSN. JW Publication handled the complete setup — website, ISSN guidance, OJS installation, and editorial workflow. The process was professional from start to finish. Our bulletin now reaches researchers in 12 countries and is indexed in Google Scholar."
"After struggling for months to understand ISSN requirements and OJS installation, I contacted JW Publication. Within three weeks, my online research journal had a professional website, OJS platform, dual ISSN numbers, DOI integration, and was ready to accept submissions. The support team was patient, responsive, and genuinely expert."
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to the most common questions about ISSN registration and journal publication services.
ISSN Services at a Glance
Start Your Professional Journal with ISSN Today
Launch your academic journal with JW Publication and get complete support for ISSN registration, journal website setup, OJS hosting, Crossref DOI integration, peer review workflow, and full journal publication services — from India to the world.